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When selecting a tree to plant at home, it’s important to keep in mind the future growth of the tree, say the experts at SDG&E, a Sempra Energy utility. Note that as trees grow to mature heights, they can interfere with overhead power lines and, in some cases, underground utility lines. Before planting a new tree, follow these safety guidelines.

1. Take the time to properly select a tree that is not only aesthetically pleasing but is safe to plant in your area.

2. Keep water conservation in mind, and consider planting drought-tolerant trees and vegetation on your property.

3. Take the time to choose the planting site as carefully as you chose the tree. Remember to always plant the "Right Tree in the Right Place" for the best chance of success.

4. Call Underground Service Alert at 8-1-1 to mark out underground utility lines two days before digging. With just one call, you can have your underground cable, water and energy lines marked out for free.

5. Don't plant shrubs directly in front of utility boxes or pad-mounted (box) transformers. Allow room for doors to swing open when shrubs are fully grown. The law requires that eight feet in front of and two feet on the other three sides of the transformer must be clear.

6. Contact your city arborist, parks department or public works department to find out whether your city has guidelines for planting trees, and whether a permit is required for planting trees in parkways or public areas.

With tax season behind us, it may be tempting to spend your return on an HD television or long-awaited vacation. Instead, the experts at American Consumer Credit Counseling recommend investing your return in areas you’ll see the most benefit. Here’s how.

1. Pay off any outstanding credit card debt. Take the opportunity to make a dent in your credit card debt. While you’re likely making monthly payments on your credit card, if you continue to make just the minimum payment, financing the debt with interest can be harmful and costly down the line.

2. Start or replenish your emergency fund. Building up a financial emergency fund is critical. Many financial advisors suggest building enough financial reserves to last up to six months in case of crisis.

3. Invest in a retirement savings account. Even if you already have a 401k plan with your employer, consider creating your own account. It’s a good way to have more control over your investments and to jumpstart them. The sooner you begin saving, the more time the money has to grow.

4. Start a college savings plan. There’s nothing more important than investing in education. It’s no secret that college is expensive. College debt can add up very quickly and take years to pay off. Avoid credit problems by saving early.
5. Invest in boosting your income. Invest in your career.Spending money on professional education or new technology or tools for your business can go a long way in boosting your earning power.

6. Begin a maintenance project on your car or home to improve the quality and value. Use your money to tackle necessary repairs. Replace worn tires or patch leaky roofs. These projects will save money in the long run, as they can cost you more if you wait. These updates can also work to prevent any unexpected disasters, costing even more down the line.

Real estate was once again named the best long-term investment, topping stocks, mutual funds, gold, savings accounts, CDs and bonds as the preferred means to long-term gains, according to a recent Gallup poll.

For the Americans surveyed, investment preferences broke down as follows:

Real Estate – 31 percent

Stocks/Mutual Funds – 25 percent

Gold – 19 percent

Savings Accounts/CDs – 15 percent

Bonds – 6 percent

Most importantly, all major gender, age and income groups agreed that real estate is the best long-term investment, signaling growing confidence in opportunities for housing for Americans from a diverse range of socioeconomic backgrounds.

Homeowners must consider several factors when planning an exterior home remodel – and curb appeal tops the list, according to a recent CertainTeed survey. When asked which factor was most important to an exterior remodel, 39 percent of respondents cited curb appeal, followed by 26 percent naming return on investment and 21 percent indicating outdoor living and lifestyle considerations.

"In home design, there is an increased interest in individualization and creativity – true for both interior and exterior design," says Mike Loughery, CertainTeed. "We've found that homeowners want healthy, energy-efficient homes that offer complete comfort and curb appeal, but don't always know the best way to start."

Here, CertainTeed names the best home investments that can help meet curb appeal, return on investment and outdoor living goals:

Whoever said, "If you have your health, you have everything," must have been retired.

Health is typically more important than wealth when it comes to determining the well-being of America's retirees, according to a recent MassMutual Retirement Services study. Retirees in better health are more likely to feel financially secure, enjoy retirement, feel fulfilled, and are less likely to experience negative emotions.

The study shows that the loss of health is more costly to a retiree's overall experience than the loss of wealth. Three-quarters (76 percent) of those with $250,000 or more in assets report having a positive retirement experience, compared to 68 percent of those with less than half the assets. However, the health gap is much steeper: 80 percent of those in better health report having a positive experience in retirement, compared to only 59 percent of those who are in poorer health, regardless of how many assets they own.

Four in 10 retirees overall say they spend more on health care than they expected before retiring, with 43 percent spending more than $5,000 annually and 14 percent spending more than $10,000.

In focus groups conducted as part of the study, many retirees expressed concerns about the potential impact of their family health history, especially in later years. Many retirees also talked about working longer to maintain their healthcare insurance.

(Family Features) When it comes to brightening your home’s decor, accent pieces can make all the difference. But adding these touches doesn’t have to break the break. Here’s how to incorporate inexpensive, beautiful and practical accents around your home.

Kitchen Accents

Dressing up the heart of the home can be as simple as placing a bouquet of flowers or a decorative hand soap by your kitchen sink. On the counters, keep clutter to a minimum and inject pops of color with a clear or wooden bowl filled with your favorite seasonal fruit.

Living Room Accents

One easy way to add character to the living room is to utilize pieces that tell a story. Treasured mementos from a special vacation or frames filled with pictures of your loved ones add not only a personal touch, but also give visitors a glimpse at the things that matter most to you.

And consider using accessories that serve a dual purpose – wax candles can both enhance the decor and provide pleasant scents, while a throw blanket can complement the decor while providing some cozy warmth.

Bedroom Accents

If you're hesitant about patterns in your home’s sanctuary, try incorporating a bold design through an accent piece, such as a lamp shade. Add a stack of your favorite books on the nightstand in a nod to your personal style.

“Purchase applications in 60 of the 100 markets that MiMi [Multi-Indicator Market Index] tracks are up from the same time last year, including 20 markets that are showing double-digit increases,” Kiefer explains. “Reinforcing this positive momentum, existing home sales surged 6.1 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.19 million units in March, the highest annual rate since September 2013. Housing inventory rose 5.3 percent to 2 million homes for sale, but unsold inventory was little changed at a 4.6 month supply.”

Forget warmer climates – more baby boomers are retiring near their adult children to help care for grandchildren, according 40 percent of respondents in a recent Mayflower Movers Insights survey. What’s more, half of Americans believe boomers are needed in the same towns as their children and grandchildren, compared to five years ago.

This is largely due to the increase in two-income households where both parents work and need assistance with their children, one in five respondents said. This complements the results of a recent Bureau of Labor Statistics survey, which found that nearly 60 percent of all U.S. families with children under the age of 18 had two working parents.

Additionally, one in four millennials, or those age 18 to 34, have moved back to their hometown in the past five years. Their primary motivation? Being closer to family, friends and significant others. Just 18 percent of millennials said they were moving back home to help care for family members. Seventeen percent would consider moving back home to settle down and start a family.

With over 100 million pets in the U.S. alone, it’s easy to see why so many experience chronic pet allergies. Whether they know it or not, one in six Americans is allergic to cats, dogs or both.

A combination of environmental and genetic factors determines who is prone to pet allergies, which can manifest at any time. Experts know, however, that long-term, cumulative exposure to household pets is a common denominator. In other words, living around animals will eventually trigger allergy symptoms in those with even mild sensitivity.

Contrary to popular belief, no amount of cleaning can eliminate animal allergens, but a proactive strategy can reduce allergens to tolerable levels, say the experts at all-natural product provider Amazing Solutions. Here’s how:

For new cat owners, spay or neuter your feline friends as soon as possible to reduce the production of allergy-provoking proteins in both males and females.

In many homes today, it’s a common practice to hang a flat screen television above the hearth. While it may be appealing aesthetically, homeowners must be cautious when considering installing a TV above the fireplace, says the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA). Keep safety in mind with these tips.

Review your fireplace and chimney venting system. Some popular models of natural gas logs are designed to be vent-free, and this means high levels of heat can be radiating out from the appliance. Heat and TVs don’t mix.

Check your fireplace opening for discoloration. Discoloration means some potentially hazardous byproducts of combustion are entering your home, rising above your fireplace opening and putting them into direct contact with you and your TV.
Consider industry safety standards when hiding cables. National building codes recommend a minimum of two inches clearance between combustible electrical wires and a fireplace or chimney appliance. It’s important that you carefully review mounting instructions when hanging your flat screen to reduce risk as much as possible. If you have professional installers doing the work, make sure you understand their plans for the cable and electrical wires connected to the set.